back through the components. I understood his certainty now. A man has a feeling for ships if he's a good officer. But it was a trait I'd never expected in Chase. I gave the orders and we resumed our band and speed. Chase looked at me.

"You acted correctly, Mr. Marsden," he said. "Something I would hardly expect, but something I was glad to see."

"I served under Andy Royce," I reminded him.

"I know," Chase replied. "That's why I'm surprised." He turned away before I could think of an answer that would combine insolence and respect for his rank. "Keep her on course, Mr. Halloran," he tossed over his shoulder as he went out.

We kept on course--high and hard despite a couple of disturbances that lumbered by underneath us. Once I made a motion to stop ship and check, but Halloran shook his head.

"Don't do it, sir," he warned.

"Why not?"

"You heard the Captain's orders. He's a heller for having them obeyed. Besides, they might be Rebs--and we might get hurt shootin

Reviews

A good little story about a lieutenant assigned to a new ship during a war with rebel colonies. He finds his new captain is famous--as a regulation quoter and possible coward.

The author draws good characters and plots a convincing interstellar battle, and his take on the "spectrum" of hyperspace is interesting. People smoke cigarettes on space ships and there are no women in the crew (or anywhere else,) but it's a good story for 1960.

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